Monday, February 8, 2010

IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY

Here's a hint; what's loud, oval shaped, and a great SoCal venue you've cruised by dozens of times? (Hey, read the title, genius)

Get yourself and your pals over to Irwindale Speedway...uh, make that the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale--and no brake recall jokes, okay? Or I brake your mouth..

Football is over..OVER. So get over it. Now it's the NBA for two boring months before it gets interesting. March Madness? Too much ESPN, rants against mid-majors and Vitale's bubble picks.

Who dat. . .screw dat.

Irwindale fires up March 27 with Super Late Models--these are 2 to 3 year old 'Cup' cars, along with Vista Paint Super Stocks, and a family-friendly lineup of popular Legends cars, Classic Stocks, mini stocks and more.

Maybe the best part? The deal. $15 to get in, $5 to park. And there's not a bad seat in the steep-sloped grandstand that offers everybody a checkered-flag view. Half-mile track, no pits to confuse spectators or drivers (the pit area is back of the track in a roped off parking area), easy to find off the 605 freeway, just south of the 210.

Like up and coming drivers hungry for the big cash races? Irwindale.

Kid's racing, women owners, local sponsors hunting for a ticket to the show? Irwindale.

And no, I'm not a paid writer or shill. I choked that gig a few years ago, trying to put together a pilot for a reality show until the owner growled at us shooting video in the race control booth and kicked us out. We were credentialed, but he forgot. About five times. True story. Not a big personal fan of the owner.

But I am a fan of racing, and my hat's off to SoCal sports venues that 'get it' when it comes to fans, value, fun, and respect for all ages.

Toyota Speedway at Irwindale holds races most every Saturday night starting March 27 and continues through September, so there's racing all season long. You can decide late, drive over, get in, and have tons of racing fun. Don't have to plan this gig months in advance, like some of the major sports franchises in town.

Want to see super stars at the Long Beach Grand Prix? NASCAR Cup at California Speedway? These are world class racing events, at world class prices.

For more home-spun fun, rubbing elbows with drivers and hanging out early with pit crews, it's Irwindale.

Somewhere in our future I see an NFL team moving in. The Lakers are class, but they think so too. Dodger Blue is always true, and Angels are indeed in the outfield.

For real Saturday night fun, Irwindale rocks with it's own version of local roar and score. You won't be disappointed and your pocket book always keeps its pride.

Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, the first of the off-season value-packed profiles coming here at INDIAN HILL.

Let me know if it works for you.http://www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com/index.asp